Chocolate Sweet Potato Chia Seed Pudding and a Giveaway!

by Heidi @ Food Doodles on May 25, 2011

The giveaway is now over. Thanks to everyone for entering!! Find the winner here.

I’ve confessed my love of chia seeds before. They are amazing nutritionally and have so many health benefits, but I personally notice a few things when I eat chia seeds. First, I stay better hydrated. Chia seeds absorb over 10 times their weight in liquid and I find this helps considerably with how hydrated I am after I’ve eaten them. I also notice much stabler blood sugars which promotes a better mood through the entire day(I especially notice this in the kids) and less snacking during the day which is due to the effect they have on blood sugar. These are both reasons why it’s often recommended for weight loss and I can honestly say I notice a difference between days I do eat chia seeds and days I don’t. (Here is an interesting 9 minute video explaining why chia (Mila) is so good for weight loss, if you’re interested).

Chia seeds are also high in calcium which is something always on my mind with little ones, since we don’t drink much milk. It’s also the highest natural source of omega-3 fatty acids(8x more than salmon!) that has none of the dangers associated with taking fish oil or flaxseed (you have to eat 9 fish oil pills – which hold dangers such as mercury and other contamination – to get the omega 3’s you get in 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, or 1 scoop of Mila which I’ll talk about later). Omega-3’s are amazing for everyone, but especially young children and expecting mothers. And there are no restrictions on eating Mila or chia, unlike flax where there are warnings against nursing or pregnant mothers using flax seed). Chia is also high in fiber and protein, not to mention, iron, potassium, magnesium, selenium and phosphorus. It is an amazing addition to anyone’s diet. You can add them to smoothies or sprinkle them over any meal. We especially like them sprinkled over oatmeal, mixed in with muesli and in chocolate chia seed pudding. Although we do find it hard to get enough chia seeds in with our meals and snacks so just mixing and drinking with juice is a great idea as well.

Chocolate Sweet Potato Chia Seed PuddingServes 6-8

1 small sweet potato, baked, cooled and peeled

1 over ripe banana

1/4 C or two scoops Mila or whole chia seeds

1/4 C cocoa powder(or to taste)

1- 1 1/2 C almond milk or your favorite alternative

2 tbsp maple syrup(to taste depending on how much cocoa powder is used)

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 – 1 tsp instant coffee(optional)

In your food processor or blender add the sweet potato, banana and half the milk. Blend till very smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend again. The seeds will not blend completely smooth but I still enjoyed the texture. Spoon into individual serving dishes and let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. Or cover and put in the fridge for later. Although the chia will continue to thicken the pudding so when you do take it out of the fridge it may be more of a pot de creme texture. You can thin it out with additional milk mixed in with a spoon, or serve. Or for a special treat take a dollop and serve on top of your morning oats.

Note that it will all depend on how much cocoa powder you add whether or not you’ll taste the sweet potato. I don’t like the sweet potato taste in it, but just love the creaminess it adds so I added as much cocoa powder as it took to cover the taste.

Have you heard of Mila? I hadn’t heard of it until Eleanor contacted me to let me know of the benefits of this brand of chia seeds. What sets them apart is the care that is taken to ensure that each batch is up to the highest standards nutritionally and in cleanliness. Also, Mila is the only brand of chia seeds that is micro-sliced and not heated, instead of ground, protecting all the oil. They even have the product tested in independent laboratories to ensure that the nutrition is the best it can be. Mila truly is the gold standard when it comes to chia. Eleanor sent me a free sample to try and post about if I enjoyed the product and now I want to pass the opportunity to try some on to you!

To enter to win a 16 oz bag of Mila that retails for $55 leave a comment here telling me if you’ve ever tried chia seeds, and what your favorite way to use them is. Posting or linking to a recipe in your comment would be great 😀

For additional entries(one extra entry per option and leave separate comments for each option that you do in the comments so I can count each one):

Go to the Eleanor’s Mila website and tell me one thing you’ve learned about Mila and chia seeds. There is a lot of good information under the products tab, under Mila.

Use your favorite networking tool(Facebook, twitter, your own blog) to promote this giveaway using this link http://wp.me/p1xy79-mT and a short sentence to explain, for example “Check out this chia seed giveaway at Food Doodles http://wp.me/p1xy79-mT“(you’ll have to be able to show me where you did this if you win).

This giveaway is only open to those with a North American shipping address(sorry to my readers from outside of North America!) and will end on Sunday May 29th at noon MST when I’ll randomly select a winner. Make sure you leave a message that includes some way to contact you, either an email in the email address section of your comment or even a link to your blog so I can find you 🙂

There are also great opportunities to start your own Mila business and become an independent distributor like Eleanor did. If you love Mila and want to tell your friends and family about it, you can earn an income. Mila (Lifemax) is the only whole raw food company that offers this so be sure to contact Eleanor if you’re interested.

I just started using Chia seeds. I am a graduate student, and my mornings are often extremely rushed. I used to have a hard time getting in a good breakfast. I would be tired and hungry all throughout the day and definitely not in a prime state to learn, teach, or push myself to get everything out of my master’s degree.

I found a recipe for a breakfast shake including Chia seeds, and it makes a huge difference. I seriously look forward to waking up and having this shake, because it just makes me feel so GOOD 🙂 It’s also easy to clean up, because after I make my shake, I rinse out the blender, squirt in some dish soap, add hot water, and blend up the soapy mixture, and voila! No crusty blender awaiting me after a long day, and I’m ready to go in the morning!

I have never heard of Mila – but they sound really interesting! I love chia seeds on top of yogurt or made into a pudding – much like the fabulous one you have here.Jess@Healthy Exposures recently posted..Sesame Almonds &amp Butter

Okay I’m sold, chia seeds sound amazing! I’ve never had them before but my mom uses them in fitness shakes and I’ve been curious… well anyways, now’s the time for me to check them out, you’ve convinced me!Ashley @ The Drunk Squash recently posted..Fitness Story and Sweet Preserves

I’ve never tried chia seeds but I’ve been hearing so many good things about them and would really like to! I’ve heard eating them for breakfast is quite delicious and I’d love to try this pudding recipeSara recently posted..Free Masons and Elephant Ears

Can I just say I love your blog! You have the greatest recipes, and I am so excited to try this! And I was wondering about giving chia seeds to my daughter, but I am so happy you said all of their benefits! thank you SO much for sharing!Ari@ThE DiVa DiSh recently posted..Butternut Squash Pizza Crust-Healthy AND Gluten Free! –

I went to Mila’s website and learned quite a bit- namely, that chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse: 6 x more calcium than milk, 6 x more protein than beans, 3 x more iron than spinach, and much more!

I actually found you site by clicking on a picture that was posted on pinterest.com. From there, I scrolled through all your recipes and actually added you to my “favourites” because of the couple of recipes you had with chia seeds in them! So, it seems fitting that I leave a comment about these seeds.

I make overnight oat parfaits each morning and have a good 2 tablespoons of chia seeds in my oats. I layer the oat mixture with banana or strawberry soft serve and it makes for a wonderful and filling breakfast.

I’m such a huge fan, that I add chia seeds to anything and everything. Salads, cereal, smoothies, chicken, salmon, dips and spreads. I love the fact that they are tasteless, so anything that has a sauce, topping or crust or is made in a blender or mix master – a handful of seeds always gets added.

Great info on the site! Seeing it comparison to other food is amazing. More antioxidants than blueberries?! Awesome. Its amazing how powerful little seeds can be!Felicia (Natural+Balanced) recently posted..Today’s Circuits Workout

Great post! The video is wonderful. I am going to watch it again and make a list of low glucose foods for reference. Thank you for sharing that.

My favorite way to eat Chia is in a pudding. I make a tropical pudding.
2 oranges (juiced and pulp)
1 banana
2-3 slices of pineapple
1/2 cup hemp or almond milk (I make my own)
1 Tablespoon coconut
2 Tablespoon of chia seeds
Blend together well ( I use a blender). Be sure to break up the clumps of chia.
Put in fridge for several hours.
Wonderful!
Have a wonderful day.
Frannie

I like using them in smoothies and shakes to thicken them if wish. I made vegan raw cheese sauce with them to lower nuts being used or as a egg replacer in baked goods and the list goes on and on for how I use them.

I have tried Chia seeds and love them! Like others have said, they make me feel so good! I love mixing them in with my oatmeal or fruit smoothies (current fav. is frozen banana, 1 apple, a splash of milk, scoop of yogurt, chia seeds, nutmeg, & cinnamon.. try it!!) I actually also just made your recipe for choc. chia seed pudding the other day and it was SO good! I loved it mixed in with my oatmeal! 🙂

So cool! The pudding looks great! I’ve never tried chia seeds before but I’m in love with flax seed so I don’t see why I wouldn’t love chias! I’d probably toss them into my oatmeal for the first go around!

Just checked out the website and learned that omega-3’s help control and balance your mood… apparently they keep the brain’s pattern of thoughts, reactions, and reflexes running efficiently… didn’t know that 🙂

I have never heard of or tried chia seeds. They sound terrific if they keep you hydrated better especially when working out to lose weight. I ended up in hospital once because of dehydration and let me tell you its not fun.

I’ve never actually used chia seeds, but I’ve heard so many people talking about them lately that I would sort of like to see what’s up with the bandwagon. And because I’m also vegan now, I like finding ways to… “beef up” my food.

Yes!! I love chia seeds, they are truly amazing. I put them in oatmeal (overnight), that seems to be a favorite. I’ve put them in smoothies to thicken them (first mixed with water). I am looking for more ways to use them, I will defineately try this recipe! I notice when I work-out after having some in the morning (even if it’s later in the day) I have so much energy, I can just keep going and going 🙂

Liked your facebook page. I love it when I can see new recipes in my feed!
I found a recipe where I can use chia seeds in making strawberry jam – I absolutely love it, as it thickens the strawberries nicely. But I always use chia seeds in my morning smoothie – it’s a good source of health in the morning.

I love to mix chia seeds in with my yogurt before bed and then eat them in the morning at lunch once it’s all thickened up to become more like pudding – doesn’t sound so exciting, but the change in texture really brings something different to plain old yogurt! I also use a great recipe for chia banana muffins

I put them on everything, I love that they’re so packed with nutrients 🙂
Love eating them in my cereal or with fruit and yogurt.
And chia frescas! (juice mixed with the whole seeds until they absorb the liquid)

I didn’t realize how important chia was to the Aztecs, the third main crop! I really liked reading about. It disappeared for 500 years and was only rediscovered 2 decades ago, and that it probably disappeared for religious purposes. Thanks http://www.lifemax.net !

last but not least, I love using chia seeds in overnight oats. I just made some with chia seeds, homemade applesauce (that I used the food doodles recipe for!), whole milk yogurt, almond milk & almond butter. I can’t wait for breakfast!

I also only bought my first bag of chia seeds because I saw your chia seed pudding recipe and couldn’t stop thinking about it, I make my own with chocolate peanut butter. Mmmmm!

My friend introduced me to chia seeds one night when we sat down for fresh blueberries and raw whipped cream. I was hooked! I use the gel from soaking them in baked goods to up the moisture, particularly since whole wheat can often leave things so dry! I also love the magnesium in them…since usually chocolate cravings come from magnesium deficiency. Thanks for the information on Mila!

i love making a quick chocolate chia seed pudding to keep in the fridge for when my sweet tooth beckons! can’t wait to try your recipe too that includes a power punch of sweet potato!jess@cosmicdavesvinylemporium.com

I love chia seeds (though to be honest I’m never particularly creative with them; this pudding looks like a delicious change!). I have them in my oatmeal every morning and use them in baking as an egg substitute.

The title on photograzing brought me to your site – vegan chocolate pudding – but then when I opened it up on your blog the title was expanded “Sweet potato”! Even better. then I learn about chia -so cool – I think I’ll go buy some TODAY.Apron Appeal recently posted..Fauxstess Cupcakes

What an interesting and informative post, I love chia and use it even more often now that we make your chia pudding, it’s excellent, I usually make it with goat’s milk yogurt and a touch of honey for my daughter and she LOVES it. I’ll definitely try the chocolate sweet potato chia pudding, sounds and looks delicious.

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Welcome to Food Doodles!

Hi, I'm Heidi! I'm a mom of 3 kids ages 8 and under feeding my family real food. Heavy on the fruits and veggies but also full of healthy whole grain baked goodies, these are my experiments with good food, my Food Doodles.
Read more on my About page.